NBWA PAC gets high rating

Modern Brewery Age, May 30, 2005

The National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee has received high marks for donor loyalty, effectiveness and using donor dollars wisely, according to a comparative analysis of top lobbying associations conducted by Sagac Public Affairs, LLC.

"NBWA members recognize the importance of being politically active and their overwhelming support of the NBWA PAC is a testament to their political prowess," said NBWA President and PAC Treasurer David K. Rehr. "After seeing these survey results, our PAC donors can also take pride in the fact that their dollars are used wisely with all contributions going toward the election of pro-beer federal candidates."

The NBWA PAC contributes 100 percent of its money raised to directly benefit federal candidates, and according to the analysis, the Association spends significantly less in administrative costs associated with the PAC than other associations. Whereas the average association spends 32 percent of its resources for labor, overhead and expenses, NBWA spends 12 percent--the lowest of any federal business PAC surveyed.

The analysis also showed that member participation in the NBWA PAC (51 percent) is higher than other association PACs (the average is 17 percent) and the PAC's fundraising has grown 42.7 percent since 2000.

Of the top six most effective fundraising methods, NBWA employs five of the methods. But Rehr attributes member participation first and foremost to the loyalty, political activism and dedication of beer wholesalers. "Beer wholesalers know that when they give to the NBWA PAC, they are helping to elect pro-beer, pro-business members of Congress. Many PACs raise money that they don't spend. That's counterintuitive to our way of thinking. The NBWA PAC raises money to elect a pro-beer Congress, not to sit in a bank account," said Rehr.

The NBWA PAC is the largest PAC in the licensed beverage industry, and gave more than four times the amount to federal candidates that other licensed beverage industry PACs gave in the 2004 election cycle. The NBWA PAC ranks among the top 1.2 percent of all federally-registered PACs in receipts, and among the top 1.3 percent in contributions to federal candidates.

The NBWA PAC also has a strong suc [TEXT INCOMPLETE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE.]